Freshmen delegation gets oriented to the ways of the Legislature

Tuesday

AUSTIN — Like other freshmen in the Texas House of Representatives, state Rep. John Frullo was at the Texas Capitol on Monday, meeting soon-to-be colleagues and attending a few receptions.

For the Lubbock Republican, that’s the fun part of being a freshman legislator.

The serious part starts today.

For four days, Frullo and 36 other rookies — the largest freshman delegation in 38 years, which also includes GOP Reps.-elect Charles Perry of Lubbock, Jim Landtroop of Plainview and Four Price of Amarillo — will be participating in what is known as “freshman orientation,” an intense preparation on how the legislative process works and how the newcomers can make the most of it.

“The long campaign and the election are over,” Frullo said before leaving for Austin. “Now it’s time to go to work. We’ll go to a few receptions and maybe some parties, but it’s going to be an intense preparation and I am looking forward to it.”

During the freshman orientation week, the incoming legislators learn the intricacies of the legislative process, particularly parliamentary procedures and rules of etiquette on the House and Senate floors. Equally important, they are schooled on must-learn topics such as the budgetary process, how state government agencies work and even how to deal with interest groups and the media.

And no freshman orientation would be complete without a pep talk from Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, House speaker Joe Straus and a good number of veteran legislators, particularly chairmen of key committees in both legislative chambers.

For instance, in one of the sessions about the budget, the newcomers are scheduled to hear directly from Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, chairman of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee.

Frullo said he considers the Pitts presentation critical because the Legislature expects a budget shortfall of as much as $21 billion in the next two fiscal years.

However, for the Panhandle/South Plains region, which is sending the largest number of rookies in more than two decades, the entire four-day orientation is critical, said Rep. Joe Heflin, D-Crosbyton.

“It’s a very useful experience,” said Heflin who was elected four years ago. “You learn a lot in those four days.”

Heflin, whom Landtroop defeated in the Nov. 2 election, said what was most useful to him was learning how to work with other colleagues and learning how to attach amendments to bills.

And in that regard, Frullo, Perry, Landtroop and Price, as well as other freshmen, would do well in learning as much as possible from the likes of veteran Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, who is considered the master of parliamentary rules.

“I learned a lot from Warren, and I hope our freshmen go to him for help, too,” Heflin said. “You can’t have a better teacher than Warren Chisum.”

Chisum, who still vividly remembers what it was like for him 22 years ago when he was first elected to the Texas House, has said repeatedly that he is ready to help in any way he can to all four rookies from the region’s delegation.

For Frullo, the orientation couldn’t come soon enough because — unlike Perry, Landtroop and Price, as well as most other House freshmen — he is already representing his Lubbock district. He was sworn in a week ago because, in addition to defeating Democrat Carol Morgan on the Nov. 2 general election, he also won a special election, which allowed him to serve out the remainder of his predecessor Carl Isett’s two-year term.

Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, said that although Frullo, Perry, Landtroop and Price, as well as all other House freshmen, will learn a lot during the four-day orientation, there is nothing like when the Legislature is in session.

“They are going to learn over the next month and a half before they get sworn in,” said Smithee, who has served in the House for 26 years. “They can study, they can talk to people and they get prepared to a large extent, but it is nothing like the preparation that you get into once you actually start attending committee meetings and you actually start voting on issues.”

Frullo said he understands the learning is a continuing process.

“One thing I learned from Carl and others I have talked to is that you never stop learning,” Frullo said in reference to Isett, R-Lubbock, who represented District 84 for 131/2 years before retiring in May.

To comment on this story:

enrique.rangel@morris.com • 512-673-7553

terry.greenberg@lubbockonline.com • 766-8700

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